Varney the Vampire eBook

A shriek burst from Flora’s lips—­a
shriek so wild and shrill that it awakened echoes
far and near. Charles staggered back a step, as
if shot, and then in such agonised accents as he was
long indeed in banishing the remembrance of, she cried,—­

“The vampyre! the vampyre!”

CHAPTER XVII.

THE EXPLANATION.—­THE ARRIVAL OF THE ADMIRAL
AT THE HOUSE.—­A SCENE OF CONFUSION, AND
SOME OF ITS RESULTS.

[Illustration]

So sudden and so utterly unexpected a cry of alarm
from Flora, at such a time might well have the effect
of astounding the nerves of any one, and no wonder
that Charles was for a few seconds absolutely petrified
and almost unable to think.

Mechanically, then, he turned his eyes towards the
door of the summer-house, and there he saw a tall,
thin man, rather elegantly dressed, whose countenance
certainly, in its wonderful resemblance to the portrait
on the panel, might well appal any one.

The stranger stood in the irresolute attitude on the
threshold of the summer-house of one who did not wish
to intrude, but who found it as awkward, if not more
so now, to retreat than to advance.

Before Charles Holland could summon any words to his
aid, or think of freeing himself from the clinging
grasp of Flora, which was wound around him, the stranger
made a very low and courtly bow, after which he said,
in winning accents,—­

“I very much fear that I am an intruder here.
Allow me to offer my warmest apologies, and to assure
you, sir, and you, madam, that I had no idea any one
was in the arbour. You perceive the rain is falling
smartly, and I made towards here, seeing it was likely
to shelter me from the shower.”

These words were spoken in such a plausible and courtly
tone of voice, that they might well have become any
drawing-room in the kingdom.

Flora kept her eyes fixed upon him during the utterance
of these words; and as she convulsively clutched the
arm of Charles, she kept on whispering,—­

“The vampyre! the vampyre!”

“I much fear,” added the stranger, in
the same bland tones, “that I have been the
cause of some alarm to the young lady!”

“Release me,” whispered Charles to Flora.
“Release me; I will follow him at once.”

“Perhaps I ought to account for my appearance
in the garden at all,” added the insinuating
stranger. “The fact is, I came on a visit—­”

Flora shuddered.

“To Mr. Henry Bannerworth,” continued
the stranger; “and finding the garden-gate open,
I came in without troubling the servants, which I much
regret, as I can perceive I have alarmed and annoyed
the lady. Madam, pray accept of my apologies.”